Switch control device



Nov. 3.0, 1948. A. BUTTNER 2,455,161

SWITCH CONTROL DEVICE Filed Feb. 18, 1946 6,7 v IN V EN TOR.

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Patented Nov. 30, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in switch control devices, adaptable for various purposes, such as radio-clocks, television apparatus, and the like.

With the above and other objects in View, this invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my improved switch control device, partly in section.

Figure 2 is a transverse horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 2--2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, showing the switch mechanism in Figure 2 in a diiferent position.

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 but showing said switch mechanism in another andv further different position.

Figure 5 is a partly sectional and partly elevational transverse vertical view on the line 5-5 in Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, and especially now to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral I indicates the frame of an electric c'ock, having the usual dial I'I, and the motor I2; a minute hand I3 is attached to a sleeve I4 which carries a pinion I; cooperating with the latter is a gear. I6 and a train of gears I1, relatively mounted with respect to each other, so as to engage the pinion I8 of a rotor shaft I9, which in turn causes the rotation of the shaft I4.

The hour hand 20 is secured to a sleeve 2|, which carries a gear 22 meshing with a pinion 23, which in turn by cooperation of the train of gears I 1 and pinion I8 mounted upon the rotor shaft I9, cause the hour hand 20 to rotate; cooperating with the gear I6 is a pinion 24 meshing with a gear 25, attached to a sleeve 26, which carries a disc 21 having a slot 28.

A shaft 29 rotatably and slid-ably arranged within the sleeves I4, 2l and 26 carries at one end a hand 30; while a knob 3l is frictionally operating said shaft 29.

On the other end of the shaft 29 is secured a disc 32, which carries a lug 33, said lug is adapted to be engaged by the slot 28 of the disc 21, when during rotation the said slot 28 and lug 33 are in properly aigned position.

To the disc 32 is secured a circular plate 34 which is provided therein with a number of small openings 35 adapted to be engaged by a pin 36 connected to a spring 31, the l-atter being xedly attached by means of rivets 38 to a plate 39 form ing part of the frame I9. Extending beyond the plate 39, the shaft 29 is provided with a rounded tip 40 which preferably may be of insulating material.

A bar 4I of insu'ating material is fast on plate 39 said bar is provided at each end with contact springs 42 and 43.

At the central position of said bar 4i is arranged a contact plate 44 carrying the contact points 45 and 46, which latter are adapted to be engaged by Contact springs 42 and 43, respectively.

An insulating bar 41 has centrally arranged thereon a contact plate 48 carrying contact points 49 and 50, which latter also are adapted to be engaged by contact springs 42 and 43, respectively, when not in engagement with contact points 45 or 46.

The insulating bars 4I and 41 may be properly spaced relative to one another and secured to the frame 39 by means of insulated bushings 5I and 52, and screws 53 and 54. The bushing 52 and screw 54 also serve the purpose of properly locating and securing the contact plates 44 and 48 in relation to the insulation bars 4I and 41. An insulated lever 55 is pivotaly mounted on a sleeve 55 between the plate 39, and a plate 51.

The lower end of the lever 55 extends downwardly between bars 4I and 41 and is by means of spacers 58 and 59 arranged to engage the contact spring 43, when said lever 55 is in a position as shown in Figure 4, or in the position shown in dotted-dash lines 55 in Figure 5.

The plate 51 is provided with a socket BI' in which a Contact plug (not shown) of any device contemplated to be operated, is inesrted.

A shaft 63 provided with a knob 64 on one end is arranged in the frame IIJ and carries a pinion 62 for a manual operation of the clock mechanism.

A wire 65 adapted to connect to an electrical source (not shown), is provided with wires 66 and 61. The wire 66 by means of a lead E8 is connected to the motor I2 and by a lead @Sto one terminal of the outlet 6l, while the wire E51 is connected to the motor by a wire 19, and to the spring 42 by a wire 1I. The other terminal of the outlet 5I is connected to the spring 43 by means of a wire 12. y

In the operation of my device thus described, the disc 32 by means of the rod 29 and knob 3| may be pushed inwardly toward and in Contact with the spring 42 until the lug 33 is forced out of engagement with the slot 28 to allow a rotary movement of the disc 32 and lug 33. The hand 30 is arranged in alignment with the lug 33 and by means of the plate 34 and openings 35, which latter are spaced at 15 minute intervals and may be set at any desired time and held in a locked position by means of the pin and held in a locked 31. When the disc 32 is out of engagement with the disc 21 the round projection 43 on the shaft 29 forces the spring 42 into contact with the contact point 49. As may be clearly seen now, from Figure 2, the spring 43 is in contact with the point 50, the circuit will be closed by means of contact plate 48, contact 5d, spring 43 and wire 12 leading to one terminal of the plug El and by means of contact plate 43, contact point 49, spring 42 and wire 1l connected to the other terminal of the latter.

When upon rotation of the disc 21 and in cooperation with the hour hand mechanism the slot 28 of the disc 21 arrives at an alignment with the lug 33, the latter is then forced into engagement with the slot 28 by means of the spring 31, thus disengaging the point 43 from the spring 42 and allowing the latter to move toward and engaging the contact point 46.

As may clearly be seen from Figure 3 contact spring 42 and contact point 49 are now out of engagement, thus breaking the circuit to the plug 6 l. From the foregoing description it may be well understood that a radio or any other implement may be in operation until the lug 33 of the disc 32 engages the slot 28 of the disc 21.

The forward end of the pin 33 is slightly rounded so that it has a moderate friction bearing in the hole 35 it engages in the disc 34. During the period when the lug or pin 33 is disengaged from the slot 28, the disc 34 will be held stationary, because the spring 31 will be under tension, and only the frictional pressure of the end of the pin or lug 33 against the hub disc or sleeve 32 will act to turn the disc or sleeve 32 and the disc 34. When the slot 28 is moved by the time mechanism into a position of registration with the pin or lug 33, the force of the spring 31 will move the disc 34 and the sleeve of disc 34 along the shaft so that the pin or lug 33 will enter the slot, thereby coupling the sleeve or disc 32 to the disc or sleeve 21, and when this takes place the disc 34 will start to turn with the shaft, and the pin 33 will be idle.

As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the lever 53 may be brought in engagement with the spring 43 and forcing the latter into Contact with the contact point 45. When the disc 21 is set at a. desired time, as heretofore described, the spring 42 is then in contact with the point 49, thus leaving an open circuit to the plug 6|. When the slot 23 eo-mes into alignment with the lug 33y the spring 42 will then contact the point 4G and by means of the contact plate 44, contact points 45 and 46, springs 42 and 43 and wires 12, 1l and 39, the circuit to the plug 6l is then completed.

It is obvious that slight changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts, as shown, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, wish to limit myself to the eXact construction and arrangement shown and described herein.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A switch control in combination with a clock, comprising, a frame, a train of gears supported by the latter, a sleeve, a disc mounted thereon and being actuated by said gears, a shaft provided with a knob, and having a disc mounted thereon, a second disc mounted on said shaft, said second disc being formed with a number of openings therein, and a pin and spring member engaging the openings in said second disc, substantially as shown and described.

2. A switch control in combination with a clock, comprising, a frame, a train of gears supported by the latter, a sleeve, a disc formed with a slot therein and being mounted on said sleeve, a shaft rotatably and slidably mounted in the latter, and a disc formed with a lug thereon and being secured upon said shaft, said shaft terminating in a rounded projection, adapted to engage one of said springs, whereby to alternately contact or disengage the latter from one of said contact points to the other.

3. In a device, as claimed in claim 2, and where in a lever mounted on said frame, is adapted to engage or disengage the second one of said contact springs, whereby to alternately contact or disengage the second one of the contact points.

4. A switch control, as described7 comprising a frame, a train of gears mounted on said frame, a sleeve supported by said frame, and a shaft ro tatably and slidably mounted in said sleeve, a disc formed with a slot and being secured to the sleeve, and a disc having a lug and being mounted on the shaft, said lug being adapted to engage said slot, a second disc secured to the shaft and being provided with openings therein, a pin i'lxedly secured to a spring and adapted to engage said openings, said sp-ring being secured to the frame, the shaft being formed with a rounded projection at one end thereof, two bars mounted on the frame, and two springs secured to one of said bars, two plates being secured, one to each of said bars, and each of said plates being made with two Contact points, one of said springs being actuated by said rounded projection of the shaft, whereby alternately to engage or disengage one Contact point of each plate, a lever mounted on said frame, and being adapted to engage the other spring whereby to alternately engage or disengage said spring from the other contact points of each plate.

5. A time controlled switch, comprising an electrically driven clock mechanism including a main shaft and a gear train therefor, a shaft operating in the main shaft, a time governed disc on said shaft having a slot therein, a disc mounted to turn on the shaft and provided with a series of circumferentially spaced time indexed sockets representing division of the hour, a spring pressed pin disn posed in the path of rotation of said sockets, a lug carried by said disc last-named and adapted to engage the slot of the rst-named disc, and circuit contacts controlled by the movement of said last-named disc.

ARNOLD BUT'INER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

